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The preferred site is on property owned by the State of New York and administered by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. The New York State Legislature authorized the Department of Environmental Conservation to enter into a lease with the National Park Service for the construction and operation of a visitor center on the preferred site.
[Page: S8510] GPO's PDF
This legislation is necessary because the Secretary of the Interior is not authorized to expend federal funds for the construction and operation of a facility on non-federal land. Passage of this legislation would provide the authority for the Secretary to enter into a lease with the State of New York and to subsequently develop a visitor center on the site thus implementing a significant element of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River's River Management Plan.
The Office of Management and Budget has advised that there is no objection to the enactment of the enclosed draft legislation from the standpoint of the Administration's program.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Barry,
Assistant Secretary for Fish
and Wildlife
and Parks.
By Mr. MURKOWSKI (by request):
S. 1367. A bill to amend the Act which established the Saint-Gaudens Historic Site, in the State of New Hampshire, by modifying the boundary and for other purposes.
SAINT-GAUDENS HISTORIC SITE LEGISLATION
Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, at the request of the administration, I rise today to introduce legislation to modify the boundaries of Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, in the State of New Hampshire.
I ask unanimous consent that the bill, a section-by-section analysis of the legislation, and the administration's letter of transmittal be printed in the RECORD for the information of my colleagues.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
The Act of August 31, 1964 (78 Stat. 749), which established Saint Gaudens National Historic Site is amended:
(1) in Section 3 by striking ``not to exceed sixty-four acres of lands and interests therein'' and inserting ``215 acres of lands and buildings, or interests therein'';
(2) in Section 6 by striking ``$2,677,000'' from the first sentence and inserting ``$10,632,000''; and
(3) in Section 6 by striking ``$80,000'' from the last sentence and inserting ``$2,000,000''.
--
Section-by-Section Analysis--Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site
Amends the Act of August 31, 1964, which originally established the historic site.
Amendment (1).--Authorizes the Secretary to acquire additional lands, up to 215 acres, which will be added to the historic site.
Amendment (2).--Increases the authorized development ceiling for the site to $10,632,000, to allow for the implementation of the approved general management plan.
Amendment (3).--Increases the authorized land acquisition ceiling for the site to $2 million, to allow for the acquisition of the lands identified for expansion in the general management plan.
--
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Washington, DC, April 30, 1999.
Hon. ALBERT GORE,
Jr.,
President of the Senate,
Washington, DC.
DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: Enclosed is a draft bill ``to amend the Act, which established the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, in the State of New Hampshire, by modifying the boundary and for other purposes.'' We recommend the bill be introduced, referred to the appropriate committee, and enacted.
The purpose of the legislation is to authorize the Secretary to expand the boundary at the site in response to the recommendations of the general management plan completed in 1996. The legislation would also increase the land acquisition ceiling and the development ceiling for the site so as to allow the acquisition of lands identified for expansion in the general management plan and to address the site development program outlined in the plan.
The present boundary of Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site includes approximately 150 acres. The majority of this acreage is the historical zone of the historic site and therefore unavailable for the development of visitor service facilities, parking, administrative offices and facilities, or new exhibition space. The enlarged boundary would allow for the development of such facilities. The current natural areas that are part of the site would be protected with the addition of adjacent property and the viewshed from the historic area would also be protected.
The Office of Management and Budget has advised that there is no objection to the enactment of the enclosed draft legislation from the standpoint of the Administration's program.
Sincerely,
DONALD J. BARRY,
Assistant Secretary for Fish
and Wildlife
and Parks.
By Mr. TORRICELLI (for himself, Mr. KERRY, and Mr. CLELAND):
S. 1368. A bill to amend the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and related laws to strengthen the protection of native biodiversity and ban clearcutting on Federal land, and to designate certain Federal land as ancient forests, roadless areas , watershed protection areas , special areas , and Federal boundary areas where logging and other intrusive activities are prohibited; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
THE ACT TO SAVE AMERICA'S FORESTS
Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, today, Senator KERRY and I are introducing the Act to Save America's Forests. When this country was founded over two hundred years ago, there were hundreds of millions of acres of virgin forest land across what is now the United States. Today, 95 percent of those original virgin forests have been cut down.
Our Federal forests are unique and precious public assets. Large, unbroken forest watersheds provide high-quality water supplies for drinking, agriculture, industry, as well as habitat for recreational and commercial fisheries and other wildlife. The large scale destruction of natural forests threatens other industries such as tourism and fishing with job loss. As a legacy for the enjoyment, knowledge, and well-being of future generations, provisions must be made for the protection and perpetuation of America's forests.
Clearcutting, even aged logging practices, and timber road construction have been the preferred management practices used on our Federal forests in recent years. These practices have caused widespread forest ecosystem fragmentation and degradation. The result is species extinction, soil erosion, flooding, declining water quality, diminishing commercial and sport fisheries, including salmon, and mudslides. Mudslides in Western forest regions during recent winter flooding have caused millions of dollars of environmental and property damage, and resulted in several deaths.
An environmentally sustainable alternative to these practices is selection management: the selection system involves the removal of trees of different ages either singly or in small groups in order to preserve the biodiversity of the forest.
Destructive forestry practices such as clearcutting on Federal lands was legalized by the passage of the National Forest Management Act of 1976. From 1984 to 1991, an average of 243,000 acres were clearcut annually on Federal lands. During the same time period an average of only 33,000 acres were harvested using the protective selection management practices. Pro-clearcutting interpretations of forestry laws have also been used by Federal managers to promote even age logging and road construction. In addition, the laws are not effective in preserving our forests because in many cases judges do not allow citizens standing in court to ensure that the Forest Service or other agencies follow the environmental protections of the law.
I am introducing this legislation to halt and reverse the effects of deforestation on Federal lands by ending the practice of clearcutting, while promoting environmentally compatible and economically sustainable selection management logging. It is important to note this legislation would only apply to Federal forests which are currently supplying less than 6 percent of America's timber consumption. According to a recent Congressional Research Service report we can reduce timber supply from the national forests and still meet our nation's timber needs. The vast majority of the 490 million acres of harvestable timber are privately owned and unaffected by the bill.
This legislation puts forward positive alternatives that will achieve two principal policies for our Federal forests. First, the Act would ban logging and road-building in remaining core areas of biodiversity throughout the Federal forest system including roadless areas , specially designated areas and 13 million acres of Northwest Ancient Forests. Second, in non-core areas it would abolish environmentally destructive forms of logging such as clearcutting and even aged logging.
The Act requires selection management logging practices to be used. Therefore, timber companies would only be allowed to log a certain percentage of the forests over specified periods of time. Further it takes extra
[Page: S8511] GPO's PDF
Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I want to speak for a few minutes today in support of the Act to Save America's Forests. Over the past 200 years, 95 percent of America's forests have been logged. The Act to Save America's Forests is an effort to save the remaining 5 percent of these original forests.
The legislation is based on our best science and recognizes that we can preserve our national forests for future generations and still harvest the renewable resource of timber. It is supported by over 600 scientists, who wrote to Congress that the act will ``give our nation's precious forest ecosystems the best chance for survival and recovery into the 21st century and beyond.''
The truth is, this bill represents a prudent approach. It has been criticized by those who want to ban all logging on national lands and by those who feel that our current forest policy is too restrictive. I am optimistic that it will bring opposing sides together around common progress.
The Act to Save America's Forests will protect some of the most treasured wild lands in America. Millions of Americans visit our national forests every year, generating more than $100 billion for local economies. In our forests, families hike, fish, boat, mountain climb, bird watch ad even dog sled. And, they act as watersheds and are home to rare species.
In Oregon, our national forests have trees over 1,000 years old. The Sequoia National Forest in California is home to the world's oldest trees. These are true natural--and national--treasures.
In New England, we have the Green Mountain and White Mountain National Forests. Only 100 miles from Boston, they are home to Mt. Washington, the Old Main of the Mountain and the Appalachian Trail. These are favorite spots for our citizens to back-pack, ski, canoe, kayak and witness the fall foliage.
The remaining unbroken forests in the Green Mountain draw wildlife from great distances, such as migratory song birds from central and South America. The Lamb Brook, Glastenbury and Robert Frost Mountain forests, which are threatened with clearcut logging, are critical habitat for New England's black bear population, who needs these remote areas of solitude to breed and forage. The Act to Save America's Forests would permanently protect these forests and their biodiversity from logging or roadbuilding.
Today, there are 490 million acres of harvestable timberlands in the United States. Only approximately 20 percent of this harvestable timberland, some 98 million acres, are owned by the Federal Government and would be impacted by the Act to Save America's Forests. The remaining 80 percent of the harvestable timberland is on private land, and would not be regulated by the Act to Save America's Forests.
The major provisions of the Act to Save America's Forests will ban logging and road building of any kind in 13 million acres of ``core'' national forest. Core forests include ancient forest and biologically significant and roadless areas . Only environmentally compatible, sustainable logging would be permitted outside of the protected core forest areas . Clearcutting and even age logging would be banned on all federal lands. The Act will protect watersheds and fisheries by prohibiting logging within 300-foot buffer areas along streams and lakes. It directs the Federal agencies to protect and restore native biological diversity. Finally, it establishes a panel of scientists to provide guidance on Federal forest management.
I want to thank Senator TORRICELLI for introducing this legislation and Representative ANNA ESHOO for offering similar legislation in the House of Representatives. I strongly support this effort to balance our need to preserve and restore our national forests while allowing for the harvest of the renewable resource these forests provide.
By Mr. JEFFORDS (for himself, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. MOYNIHAN, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. KERRY, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. DODD, and Mr. KENNEDY):
S. 1369. A bill to enhance the benefits of the national electric system by encouraging and supporting State programs for renewable energy sources, universal electric service, affordable electric service, and energy conservation and efficiency, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
CLEAN ENERGY ACT OF 1999
Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Clean Energy Act of 1999, for myself and Senators LIEBERMAN, MOYNIHAN, SCHUMER, KERRY, LAUTENBERG, DODD, and KENNEDY.
Air pollution from dirty power plants threatens the health of lakes, forests, and people across our Nation. Today, we call for an end to code red air pollution alerts, smog filled afternoons and chemical induced haze. Today, we will introduce legislation to protect our environment from the damaging effects of air pollution and move our Nation closer to a sensible energy future.
Why should we live with smog, acid rain and code red summer afternoons when the technology is here to capture the sun and wind in our backyard? It is time for our Nation to transition from smokestacks, coal power and smog to a future with windmills, solar power and blue skies. Like the wall in Berlin, we hope to watch the dirty power plants dismantled brick, by brick, knowing that once again we can breath freely.
As the U.S. PIRG report indicates, air pollution produced from dirty power plants has skyrocketed. With recent wholesale deregulation, coal fired power plants increased their output almost 16%. This has got to end.
Electric utility deregulation has the potential to save consumers millions of dollars in energy costs. At the same time, deregulation can move us away from reliance on dirty fossil fuels. A study by the Union of Concerned Scientists showed that we can decrease electricity prices by 13% while still achieving great public and environmental benefits.
Electricity prices in the Northeast are double those in the Midwest. Under current law, old, dirty coal fired power plants in the Midwest are exempt from the same air quality standards that our plants meet. Their emissions settle into our streams, forests, eyes, and lungs. They get the benefit, we get the cost.
Not anymore. Our bill will level the playing field for clean Northeast utility companies. It will knock dirty upwind coal burners out of the competitive arena. It will give our utilities the ability to compete successfully in deregulated markets.
Our proposal will cap emissions from generation facilities, forcing old coal plants to meet tighter air quality standards or shut down. We attack pollutants that lead to smog, acid rain, mercury contamination and ground-level ozone.
Our bill will put in place a nation-wide wires charge to create an electric benefit fund to develop renewable energy sources and promote energy efficiency and universal access. It will mandate that generation facilities purchase increasing percentages of renewable power each year. We begin at 2.5% in 2000 and increase to 20% renewables by 2020. Either buy renewables, or don't play in the market place.
Our legislation will make it cheaper and easier for consumers to install renewable energy sources in their homes, farms, and small businesses by simplifying the metering process. And finally, our bill has a comprehensive disclosure provision, giving consumers honest and verifiable information regarding their energy choices.
Our Nation's future depends on clean, reliable energy. We can end dirty air from tall utility smokestacks. We can capture the global market for renewable energy. We can stop acid rain from killing our forests and we can keep our summer days from being ozone days. We can increase our energy security. And we can do all this while saving consumers millions of dollars on their utility bills.
Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I am pleased today to join with my distinguished colleague from Vermont to introduce the Clean Energy Act of 1999. This landmark legislation provides a comprehensive, long-term blueprint for fulfilling the promise of fishable rivers, swimable streams, and clean, breathable air as envisioned by the ground-breaking Clean Water and Clean Air Acts.
As Senator JEFFORDS has explained, the Clean Energy Act would reduce emissions of the full range of pollutants that damage human health and the global environment. The public health standards embodied in this bill are ambitious. But they reflect the significant strides Northeastern utilities have made in recent years to reduce pollution from electric power plants. They also reflect the reality that goals can, and must, be achieved regionally and nationally if we are to ensure clean air and clean water for every community.
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